http://download-uk.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14231/storem an.htm#i1023250 The doc suggests that the above files are not supported, but fail to provide any explanation. May be the reason is very obvious, and i missed it. Can anyone please let me know why is this? I repeat my doubt: Why are the administrative files (trace files, alert logs, audit files, export files and so on.) not supported by ASM? ...you cannot put files in ASM because ASM is not a filesystem. -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l